March 27, 2026
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Cassia Crogan
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University Communications & Marketing
Ted Decker(opens in new window), CEO and president of The Home Depot, returned to his alma mater on Thursday, March 26, as a distinguished speaker for the President’s Lecture Series(opens in new window) at Carnegie Mellon University.
The series brings thought leaders and world leaders to campus to discuss topics of emerging and preeminent importance to society. Decker, who graduated from the Tepper School of Business in 1993, also serves on the university’s Board of Trustees. During his visit, he spoke about the impact of his CMU education and his experiences leading the world’s largest home improvement retailer.
“Within today’s rapidly shifting landscape, Ted stands apart: He is widely respected for his steadiness, his clarity and his values, and for his leadership style.”
— Farnam Jahanian, CMU president
During his lecture to the community, Decker discussed the history of The Home Depot, which he first joined as director of business valuation in 2000. From 2020-22, he served as president and chief operating officer of the company which now comprises more than 2,350 stores and 470,000 associates.
The distinguished lecture was followed by a fireside chat. The two leaders discussed Decker’s personal and professional journey, the impact of AI on business, and the future of education and the workforce. Jahanian asked Decker what advice he would give the next generation of students as new technologies change society.
“Carnegie Mellon is so well positioned for this, and has historically done such a great job, because you are on the vanguard of this new technology. It’s so unique, to think of the interdisciplinary nature of the school’s faculty, and being able to take courses across schools, having courses that are actually co-developed between schools … I think that’s absolutely the way you approach it.”
— Ted Decker
The CMU alumnus left this guidance for students in the audience.
“The interdisciplinary nature of Carnegie Mellon — I would say take advantage of it. This is just a remarkable place to spend four or five years, and whether you’re in computer science or business school or some of the humanities, take advantage of what’s happening on this campus.”
— Ted Decker
At the close of the event, Decker parted with two gifts from the CMU community: the first, a collection of books written by CMU faculty members.
Additionally, Tepper School graduate students Emilie He and Sameer Bhuyan gifted Decker an apron designed and crafted by students in the costume department of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Design. The custom apron features a hardhat as a homage to Home Depot, as well as tulips and a gardening tool, which reflect Decker’s love of gardening
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“Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The institution was originally established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical School. In 1912, it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology and began granting four-year degrees.”
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